Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-05-31
JOHN CHINAMAN.

Even the most thoughtful and con-
servative Of Americans are realizing that
Chinese immigration must be placed un-
der stringent restrictions. The reasons
for this step are not those of fiery or
loud-mouthed partisanship; of race
prejudice or hatred. They are reasons
open and apparent; reasons solid, SUBJ
stantial and conservative; reasons that
appeal to the public and individual good
of the American citizen, and therefore to
the best interests of the Nation. The
Chinaman is essentially and thoroughly
foreigner. Whether he stays day or
a score of years on American soil he is
the same foreigner The circulating
medium Of the country isall that touches
the feelings Of the Chinese.
They feel no interest in the develop
ment of the country or in making perma-
nent improvements. They wish to take
all thea can with them when thev GO,
and leave as little behind as possible of
tae results of their labor. They fasten
on a section Of city or village, and
make that forever Chinese. They NAV
not own foot of land in it, or building,
but they lastingly ALLEVIATE it from Amer
leans. The Oriental clutch is on the very
soil Itself. The section becomes a not
bed, in which male Chinese peculiarities
crowd, foment, grow, become fruit. tits a
Chinadom, less the homes, wives,
children. 1t is Chinadom in general tone
and quality, without the safeguards and
reliefs Of domestic life. It is a part of
the municipality set off to one-sided, un-
relieved, Oriental heathenism. Nothing
penetrates this mass to change it. Indi-
viduals going out and becoming Chris
tians make no impression on it, for they
do not return to become a permanent
leaven in it, but soon, like the others, 90
back to the home land. Civil and COM
mercial influences fall powerless on the
iron-clad stronghold.
These quarters, while maintaining their
locality and quality, are perpetually
changing in their personnel; they are in a
perpetual flux. The average Chinaman
comes to America little under eighteen
years of age, revisits China once in five
years-the merchants go twice as often
and, at the end of twelve wears from his
first landing, catches up his bundles,
swings them on pole, across his shoul-
der, and is off for the steamer to take
him for the last time to the Flowery
Kingdom, and a fresh Chinaman takes
his place. No one can understand the
web OF Chinese life that is weaving into
America who does not take into account
this shuttle, filed with Cinnamon flying
back and forth between China and onr
shores, by means of which it is woven.
Or, changing the figure, the Asiatic life
on our coast is not an orchid plucked
from Its ancient seat, ten thousand miles !
away, thrust out on a piece of bark or
stick and living on the air; but it has |
tap root running back into China; and,
having no means of self-perpetuation it
only survives by the supplies that come
through that. Sever the tap-root and it
slowly withers and disappears. As it is,
the Chinadom does not change; the in
mates alone are changed.
These patches grow. No American
likes 20 live next to them. When they
come up to one of another race, he
vacates his rented property, or sells out,
and fees; and it is always a Chinaman
who enters the vacated premises. When
they cross a street and enter on new
block, the whole block is doomed. The
American city slowly retires before the
Asiatic fungus.
These Pagan masses are impervious TO
American law. Our legal system beats
against them and is dissolved into into |
spray, or turns and whirls into eddies, or
passes in swift currents around them. |
When a Chinaman is caught in crime |
outside, or when the deed can be proved |
on him by outside witnesses, he is easily |
enough brought to justice. But offenses
among themselves are rarely brought |
into our courts, unless it is noisy quar-
rel publishing itself. They settle their
own difficulties in their own way, but !
with great mystery about the proceed
ings. They have their own methods of
making contracts, enforcing payments,
and of civil and criminal administration
generally.
All these evils are made worse by be-
ing conspicuous. The Chinese not only
retain their peculiar manners customs,
life, language-only learning a little
pigeon" or business English-but also
retain their distinctive cue or dress. You
recognize them as far as you can see
them. The town instantly changes its
appearance when you pass into their Sec
ton. The old buildings may be there,
but they have donned the foreign look.
The hive is Caucasian, the swarm, inside
and out, Chinese.
In word-John Chinaman can never
be Americanized. This is the reason
palpable and aggressive-why Chinese
immigration must be subjected to strin-
gent restrictions.
MR., GARLAND,